Endangered loggerhead sea turtles won a federal commitment to protect critical nesting-beach and ocean habitat in a legal settlement filed late Thursday in U.S. District Court between conservation groups Center for Biological Diversity, Oceana and Turtle Island Restoration Network and the U.S. government.

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By July 1, 2013, the government must identify and propose protection of loggerhead sea turtle feeding, breeding and migratory habitat in ocean waters in the U.S. Atlantic and Pacific oceans and in the Gulf of Mexico. Final critical habitat protection for marine habitat and nesting beaches must be completed by July 1, 2014. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently proposed critical habitat protection for loggerhead nesting beaches along Atlantic and Gulf coasts and will accept public comment until May 24.

Protecting critical habitat for loggerheads is essential for their recovery. Studies show that endangered and threatened species with protected habitat are twice as likely to be recovering as those without.

"Protecting sea turtle nesting habitat will not only help sea turtles but everyone who enjoys clean and healthy beaches along the Gulf Coast," said Jaclyn Lopez, a Florida-based attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. "Everyone loves seeing sea turtles, and protecting critical habitat means good management for our shores and a safer future for these incredible animals."

"Protecting critical habitat is essential for the recovery of endangered and threatened species," said Amanda Keledjian, a marine scientist at Oceana. "If the federal government truly wants to preserve these species, they must also act to protect the land and waters these turtles depend on to feed and thrive."

"Long-overdue protections for endangered Pacific loggerheads could make the difference between recovery and extinction," said Teri Shore, program director at Turtle Island Restoration Network. "These gentle ocean dwellers need safe passage across the ocean and coastal waters where they can feed and breed with as little human interference as possible."